Isaiah 55:13
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse promises a transformation so profound that what was once wild and painful (thorns, briers) becomes fruitful and beautiful (cypress, myrtle). More than just a physical change, this imagery highlights how God's redemptive work is designed to permanently reveal His glory and faithfulness, not as a fleeting event, but as an enduring testament.
The prophet Isaiah has just proclaimed God's boundless and free offer of salvation, urging all who thirst to come and partake without money or price, through an everlasting covenant. This verse acts as the grand finale to this invitation, describing the transformative, lasting impact of God's work, where barrenness gives way to beauty and uselessness to fruitful life, all as a testament to His enduring glory.
Imagine walking through a desolate landscape, filled with thorns and briers, and suddenly finding yourself in a fragrant garden. This verse paints that picture, but on a spiritual level.
Isaiah uses powerful natural imagery to describe a profound spiritual transformation.
This isn't just about a change in scenery; it's about a radical change in being. The wilderness of our lives, marked by the 'thorns' of sin and rebellion, is transformed into a place of beauty and flourishing under God's care.
Why would God transform thorns into fragrant trees? It's not just for our benefit; it's a public declaration of His character for all to see.
The transformation described in Isaiah 55:13 isn't just a one-time event; it's intended to serve as a lasting testimony to God's nature and power.
Understand the original words
na'atsuts · Hebrew Noun
A sharp, pointed, and often cursed plant. In biblical imagery, thorns frequently symbolize the consequences of the fall (Gen 3:18), judgment, or the presence of sinful obstacles.
berosh · Hebrew Noun
A tall, fragrant, and durable evergreen tree often used in building. In prophetic literature, it symbolizes the restoration, stability, and beauty that God brings to a barren or ruined state.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of the God of Israel. It denotes His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful commitment to His people, signifying His active presence in history.
oth · Hebrew Noun
A lasting or perpetual mark or token intended to point to a deeper reality or promise. It serves as a permanent witness to God's faithfulness and covenantal character.
This passage paints a similar picture of transformation, where the desert blooms and rejoices, mirroring the 'thorn' turning into a 'cypress' as a sign of God's glory.
Isaiah 41:19This verse directly mentions the myrtle tree alongside other beautiful flora replacing desolate plants, echoing the imagery of replacing thorns and briers with life and beauty.
Ezekiel 43:1-5The glory of God filling the new temple is described as a magnificent manifestation, akin to the 'everlasting sign' mentioned in Isaiah that will honor the Lord.
Romans 8:19-22This passage speaks of creation groaning and eagerly awaiting its redemption and liberation from decay, which parallels the profound transformation described in Isaiah where barrenness gives way to flourishing beauty.
Revelation 21:1-4The promise of a new heaven and a new earth where there is no more death or sorrow directly reflects the theme of radical renewal and the eradication of former suffering implied by the change from thorns to cypress trees.
clarkeIsaiah 55:13: "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
Instead of the thorn "Instead of the thorny bushes" - These likewise (see note on Isaiah 55:12 , and on Isaiah 54:11 (note)) are general poetical images, expressing a great and happy change for the better. The wilderness turned into a paradise, Lebanon into Carmel: the desert of the Gen…
barnesIsaiah 55:13: "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
Instead of the thorn - (Compare the notes at Isaiah 11:6-8 ; Isaiah 35:1-2 ; Isaiah 41:19 ; Isaiah 42:20 ). The word rendered 'thorn' (נעצוּץ na‛ătsûts) occurs only here and in Isaiah 7:19 . It evidently means a thorn, hedge, or thorny-bush. Shall come up the fir tree - (ברושׁ berô…
This verse promises a transformation so profound that what was once wild and painful (thorns, briers) becomes fruitful and beautiful (cypress, myrtle). More than just a physical change, this imagery highlights how God's redemptive work is designed to permanently reveal His glory and faithfulness, not as a fleeting event, but as an enduring testament.
The prophet Isaiah has just proclaimed God's boundless and free offer of salvation, urging all who thirst to come and partake without money or price, through an everlasting covenant. This verse acts as the grand finale to this invitation, describing the transformative, lasting impact of God's work, where barrenness gives way to beauty and uselessness to fruitful life, all as a testament to His enduring glory.
The prophet Isaiah has just proclaimed God's boundless and free offer of salvation, urging all who thirst to come and partake without money or price, through an everlasting covenant. This verse acts as the grand finale to this invitation, describing the transformative, lasting impact of God's work, where barrenness gives way to beauty and uselessness to fruitful life, all as a testament to His enduring glory.
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This highlights that our transformation in Christ is not meant to be hidden. It's a beautiful testament to the world about the God we serve – a God who can take the desolate and make it glorious, forever.
"Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”" — This verse promises a transformation so profound that what was once wild and painful (thorns, briers) becomes fruitful and beautiful (cypress, myrtle). More than just a physical change, this imagery…
